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listless languor。 She swallowed the nourishing drink an old Indian nurse
forced between her teeth； she even smiled weakly when the missionaries spoke
to her； but she said nothing nor seemed to rally from her terrible shock。 A
dark shadow lay always before her； conscious of nothing present； living over
again her frightful experience。 Again she seemed sunk in dull apathy。
〃Dave； we're going to loose Nell。 She's fading slowly；〃 said George； one
evening； several days after the girl's return。 〃Wetzel said she was unharmed；
yet she seems to have received a hurt more fatal than a physical one。 It's her
mindher mind。 If we cannot brighten her up to make her forget； she'll die。〃
〃We've done all within our power。 If she could only be brought out of this
trance！ She lies there all day long with those staring eyes。 I can't look into
them。 They are the eyes of a child who has seen murder。〃
〃We must try in some way to get her out of this stupor； and I have an idea。
Have you noticed that Mr。 Wells has failed very much in the last few weeks？〃
〃Indeed I have； and I'm afraid he's breaking down。 He has grown so thin； eats
very little； and doesn't sleep。 He is old； you know； and； despite his zeal；
this border life is telling on him。〃
〃Dave； I believe he knows it。 Poor； earnest old man！ He never says a word
about himself； yet he must know he is going down hill。 Well； we all begin；
sooner or later； that descent which ends in the grave。 I believe we might stir
Nellie by telling her Mr。 Wells' health is breaking。〃
〃Let us try。〃
A hurried knock on the door interrupted their conversation。
〃Come in；〃 said Edwards。
The door opened to admit a man； who entered eagerly。
〃Jim！ Jim！〃 exclaimed both missionaries； throwing themselves upon the
newcomer。
It was； indeed； Jim； but no answering smile lighted his worn； distressed face
while he wrung his friends' hands。
〃You're not hurt？〃 asked Dave。
〃No； I'm uninjured。〃
〃Tell us all。 Did you escape？ Did you see your brother？ Did you know Wetzel
rescued Nell？〃
〃Wingenund set me free in spite of many demands for my death。 He kept Joe a
prisoner； and intends to kill him； for the lad was Wetzel's companion。 I saw
the hunter come into the glade where we camped； break through the line of
fighting Indians and carry Nell off。〃
〃Kate？〃 faltered Young； with ashen face。
〃George； I wish to God I could tell you she is dead；〃 answered Jim； nervously
pacing the room。 〃But she was well when I last saw her。 She endured the hard
journey better than either Nell or I。 Girty did not carry her into the
encampment； as Silvertip did Joe and me； but the renegade left us on the
outskirts of the Delaware town。 There was a rocky ravine with dense
undergrowth where he disappeared with his captive。 I suppose he has his den
somewhere in that ravine。〃
George sank down and buried his face in his arms； neither movement nor sound
betokened consciousness。
〃Has Wetzel come in with Nell？ Joe said he had a cave where he might have
taken her in case of illness or accident。〃
〃Yes； he brought her back；〃 answered Edwards； slowly。
〃I want to see her；〃 said Jim； his haggard face expressing a keen anxiety。
〃She's not wounded？ hurt？ ill？〃
〃No； nothing like that。 It's a shock which she can't get over； can't forget。〃
〃I must see her；〃 cried Jim； moving toward the door。
〃Don't go；〃 replied Dave； detaining him。 〃Wait。 We must see what's best to be
done。 Wait till Heckewelder comes。 He'll be here soon。 Nell thinks you're
dead； and the surprise might be bad for her。〃
Heckewelder came in at that moment； and shook hands warmly with Jim。
〃The Delaware runner told me you were here。 I am overjoyed that Wingenund
freed you；〃 said the missionary。 〃It is a most favorable sign。 I have heard
rumors from Goshocking and Sandusky that have worried me。 This good news more
than offsets the bad。 I am sorry about your brother。 Are you well？〃
〃Well； but miserable。 I want to see Nell。 Dave tells me she is not exactly
ill； but something is wrong with her。 Perhaps I ought not to see her just
yet。〃
〃It'll be exactly the tonic for her；〃 replied Heckewelder。 〃She'll be
surprised out of herself。 She is morbid； apathetic； and； try as we may； we
can't interest her。 Come at once。〃
Heckewelder had taken Jim's arm and started for the door when he caught sight
of Young； sitting bowed and motionless。 Turning to Jim he whispered：
〃Kate？〃
〃Girty did not take her into the encampment；〃 answered Jim； in a low voice。
〃I hoped he would； because the Indians are kind； but he didn't。 He took her to
his den。〃
Just then Young raised his face。 The despair in it would have melted a heart
of stone。 It had become the face of an old man。
〃If only you'd told me she had died；〃 he said to Jim； 〃I'd have been man
enough to stand it； butthisthis kills meI can't breathe！〃
He staggered into the adjoining room； where he flung himself upon a bed。
〃It's hard； and he won't be able to stand up under it； for he's not strong；〃
whispered Jim。
Heckewelder was a mild； pious man； in whom no one would ever expect strong
passion； but now depths were stirred within his heart that had ever been
tranquil。 He became livid； and his face was distorted with rage。
〃It's bad enough to have these renegades plotting and working against our
religion； to have them sow discontent； spread lies； make the Indians think we
have axes to grind； to plant the only obstacle in our pathall this is bad；
but to doom an innocent white woman to worse than death！ What can I call it！〃
〃What can we do？〃 asked Jim。
〃Do？ That's the worst of it。 We can do nothing； nothing。 We dare not move。〃
〃Is there no hope of getting Kate back？〃
〃Hope？ None。 That villain is surrounded by his savages。 He'll lie low now for
a while。 I've heard of such deeds many a time； but it never before came so
close home。 Kate Wells was a pure； loving Christian woman。 She'll live an
hour； a day； a week； perhaps； in that snake's clutches； and then she'll die。
Thank God！〃
〃Wetzel has gone on Girty's trail。 I know that from his manner when he left
us；〃 said Edwards。
〃Wetzel may avenge her； but he can never save her。 It's too late。 Hello…〃
The exclamation was called forth by the appearance of Young； who entered with
a rifle in his hands。
〃George； where are you going with that gun？〃 asked Edwards； grasping his
friend by the arm。
〃I'm going after her；〃 answered George wildly。 He tottered as he spoke； but
wrenched himself free from Dave。
〃Come； George； listen； listen to reason；〃 interposed Heckewelder； laying hold
of Young。 〃You are frantic with grief now。 So are all of us。 But calm
yourself。 Why； man； you're a preacher； not a hunter。 You'd be lost； you'd
starve in the woods before getting half way to the Indian town。 This is
terrible enough； don't make it worse by throwing your life away。 Think of us；
your friends； think of your Indian pupils who rely so much on you。 Think of
the Village of Peace。 We can pray； but we can't prevent these border crimes。
With civilization； with the spread of Christianity； they will pass away。 Bear
up under this blow for the sake of your work。 Remember we alone can check such
barbarity。 But we must not fight。 We must sacrifice all that men hold dear；
for the sake of the future。〃
He took the rifle away from George； and led him back into the little； dark
room。 Closing the door he turned to Jim and Dave。
〃He is in a bad way； and we must carefully watch him for a few days。〃
〃Think of George starting out to kill Girty！〃 exclaimed Dave。 〃I never fired a
gun； but yet I'd go too。〃
〃So would we all； if we did as our hearts dictate；〃 retorted Heckewelder；
turning fiercely upon Dave as if stung。 〃Man！ we have a village full of
Christians to look after。 What would become of them？ I tell you we've all we
can do here to outwit these border ruffians。 Simon Girty is plotting our ruin。
I heard it to…day from the Delaware runner who is my friend。 He is jealous of
our influence； when all we desire is to save these poor Indians。 And； Jim；
Girty has killed our happiness。 Can we ever recover from the misery brought
upon us by poor Kate's fate？〃
The missionary raised his hand as if to exhort some power above。
〃Curse the Girty's！〃 he exclaimed in a sudden burst of uncontrollable passion。
〃Having conquered all other obstacles； must we fail because of wicked men of
our own race？ Oh； curse them！〃
〃Come；〃 he said； presently； in a voice which trembled with the effort he made
to be calm。 〃We'll go in to Nellie。〃
The three men entered Mr。 Wells' cabin。 The old missionary； with bowed head
and hands clasped behind his back； was pacing to and fro。 He greeted Jim with
glad surprise。
〃We want Nellie to see him；〃 whispered Heckewelder。 〃We think the surprise
will do her good。〃
〃